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"They die when they haven't any sunlight, you know," Spike said. Wesley nodded, wondering where this was going. "Dru loved flowers," Spike continued, "but they always died. She'd say that next time she'd remember to leave them outside just before daybreak, so they'd get the sun, but she always forgot." Not knowing what to say, Wesley moved over and sat down next to Spike on the couch, reaching out and touching his hand. Spike turned his hand in Wes' so that their palms were touching, interlaced their fingers, and began to trace the veins on the back of Wes' hand with his index finger. "Roses, lilies, bloody dandelions... they all died. She didn't know that dandelions aren't even a proper flower. Just weeds is all they are." Spike snorted. "Dead dandelions." "I suppose it's one of those things that's all in the eye of the beholder," Wes offered carefully. "If she thought they were flowers..." Spike snorted again. "Wes, she was insane. Off her bloody rocker. Toys in the attic. One egg short - " Wesley cut him off. "Yes, I get the picture," he said sharply, and then sighed when Spike took his hand back. "I'm sorry." "Nah. Just... every once in a while it gets to me. She was good, you know? I mean, other than the whole vampire thing." Spike let his head fall back against the couch. "Still... bald as drumsticks," he said, morosely. Wesley blinked. "I beg your pardon?" "You know." Spike made a circling gesture near his head, the universal symbol for 'crazy.' "Ah. Yes, well..." When Spike got like this Wesley was never sure what to do. Try to jolly him out of it? Let him wallow? Spike rolled his head toward Wes and looked at him. "She used to say all kinds of stuff, y'know? How the flowers would sing, and how they smelled like fresh peaches but the pit was nothing but darkness. Rot like that." His voice went up into falsetto as he mocked her. "Oh, Spoike, they're swayin' by the roadside, I can hear them calling me." Not knowing what else to do, Wesley leaned in and kissed him, hard enough to bruise. Spike looked serious. "She was nuts." "I'm getting that impression." "But she loved me." "Who wouldn't?"
Slowly, Spike smiled.
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